Garment construction



y I P. HQCHFELDER 9 GARMENT CONSTRUCTION Filed sept. 26, 194 2Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. Pu'mda l'locll {elder A TTORN E Y,

P. HQCHFELDER GARMENT CONSTRUCTION File d Sept. 26, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet,2

INVENTOR. pai'racla HochfQ/der ATTORNEY.

Patented July 9, 1946 uNrrsn STATES PATENT OFFICE 7 2,403,598 GARMENTCONSTRUCTION Patricia Hochfelder, Woodmera N. Y. Application September26, 1944, Serial No. 555,792

v Claim. 1

This invention relates generally to ladies garments and morespecifically to the type adapted to be worn by women during pregnancy.

During pregnancy it is difficult for women to wear smart tight-fittinggarments. The common practice is to use loose fitting garments which arevery unsightly for the most part. The only means usually provided formaking adjustments in the waist line is a belt associated with thegarment but this merely creates bulges all over the garment where thebody has expanded.

It is therefore among the objects of this invention to provide means ina garment whereby as the body expands the garment continues to con formto'the shape thereof. 7

Another object of the invention lies in the provision of means wherebyexpansion both in the hip-s and abdomen may be accommodated withoutaffecting the appearance of the garment.

Another object herein lies in the provision of structure including thedescribed advantages and which is of simple construction so that thesame may be manufactured in large quantities at relatively low cost andhave a consequently wide sale and distribution. 1

These objects and other incidental ends and advantages will more fullyappear in the paragraphs of this disclosure and be pointed out in theappended claim.

In the drawings, in which similar reference characters designatecorresponding parts throughout the several views:

Figure 1 is a front perspective View of a garment embodying my inventionwith a fragment of the expansible member broken away.

Figure 2 is a similar view as Figure 1 with the side pieces in openposition.

Figure 3 is also a similar view with the side pieces shown in one oftheir adjustable positions.

Figure 4 is a transverse sectional view taken along line 44 of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a transverse sectional view taken along line 5-5 of Figure3.

Figure 6 is a top'plan view of the right and left front sections and theback section, respectively.

In accordance with the invention the garment generally indicated bynumeral I9 comprises front sections II and !2, a back section 13 andtabs [4 and I5. knitted material however other fabrics are similarlyadaptable.

The back section 13 is cut in a generally rectangular shape so as toconform to the back of the wearer. The back section consists generallyThe garment is preferably made of r of side edges I6 and I1 and bottomedge 18. The top portion of the back panel is arcuately out along theline 19 to form a depression or neck line 25. An arcuate out is alsomade along the line 2| to form an arm opening 22. The opposite edge ofpanel is similarly out along the line 23 to form an arm opening 24.

A further out is made slightly on the bias along the lines 25 and 26 toform shoulder portions. Along the inside of edge IS a vertical piece oftape 2'! is attached by any well known method of sewing. To the oppositeedge l1 a similar piece of tape 28 is attached. On the tape 21 isarranged a plurality ofbuttons 29, 30 and 3! whereas tape 28 is providedwith buttons 32, 33 and 54 which are attached to the tape by the usualmethod of sewing. Whereas three buttons are shown it is quite obviousthat more or less buttons may be provided in accordance with the numberof adjustments desired. However, it has been found that three buttonsare the preferred number.

The right front section II is cut generally triangular in shape andincludes a bottom edge 35, a verticaledge 36, an edge 31 which is cut onthe bias andwhich forms a portion of the neck line 38. A cut is'alsomade along the line 39 to form the shoulder portion which harmonizeswith the shoulder portion 25 of the back section I3. An arcuate cut isthen made along the line 40 to form an arm opening A substantiallyvertical cut is also made along the lin 42 to form a portion of thewaist line 43 and an angular cut is made along the line 44 to form theadjustable tab 14. W

The edge 35 and 31 is provided with tape 45 which is attached to theseedges by any well known method of sewing. The tape is provided with aplurality of button holes 45, ll, 48, 69, 59 and 5!. However, the numberof button holes is a matter of choice and can vary as desired. The edge44 of the tab I 3 is provided with a tape 52 which is attached in anywell known manner and is provided with button holes 53, 55 and 55 whichregister with buttons 29, 30 and 3|. Additional button holes 55, 57 and58 are provided for adjacent the bottom edge 35 for circumferentialadjustment by registering with the button 3| of the back section.

The left front section I2 is cut in a generally triangular shape andincludes a bottom edge 59, a vertical edge Gil, and edge 5! which is outon the bias and. forms a portion of the neck line 52. A cut is also madealong the line 53 to form the shoulder portion which registers with theshoulder portion 26 of the back section. An arcuate cut is also madealon the line 64 to form a portion of the arm opening 65. Asubstantially vertical cut is made along the line 66 to form a por tionof the waist line 61 and an angular cut is made along the line 68 toform the adjustable tab I5. The edges 60 and 68 are provided with tape69 which is attached to these edges by any well known method of sewing.The tape 69 is provided with a plurality of buttons II, I2, I3, 14, I5and '16 which are adapted to register with the button holes 45, 41, 48,49, 50 and 5] of the right front section II. V

The edge I38 of the tab I5 is provided with a tape H which is attachedin any Well known manner and is provided with button holes I8, I9 and 80which are designed to register with the buttons 32, 33 and 34 on thetape 28 of the back section I3. Additional button holes 8 I, 82 and 83are provided for adjacent the bottom edge 59 for circumferentialadjustment by registering with the but ton 34.

In assembling the garment the left front section I2 is joined to theback section I3 by sewing the edges 63 and 26 together to form the leftshoulder 86. The arcuate edges 64 and 23 provide a left arm opening. Theedges 66 and I! are sewn together.

Similarly the right front section II is joined to the back section I3 bysewing the edges 25 and 39 together to form the right shoulder. Thearcuate edges 2| and 40 provide a right arm opening. The edges I6 and 42are sewn together. The left and right arm openings may be provided withsleeves 85 and 86 respectively if desired. The garment may be providedwith a pocket 81 and another on the opposite section (not shown).

When the body of the wearer is in a relatively normal state, the garmentwhen donned has the lower side portions thereof connected so that thelower portion of the garment, that is to say, below the-waist line 61,presents its smallest circumference. The arrangement of the parts isbest seen in Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings. When the body of thewearer increases in size the button 3I may be moved rearwardly andsuccessively connected with the several button holes 56, 51, 58 and 55.Similarly the button 34 may be successively connected with button holes82, BI and 80.

It may be noted that in all of the stages of adjustment of the girth ofthe lower portion of the garment I0 that the outer edges l6 and H of theback I3 form a relatively finished appearance and create the impressionof being physical extensions of the seams formed by the junctures of theedges I6 and 42, and I7 and 66.

It may thus be seen that I have provided a novel and useful garmenthaving structure which may be adjusted to accommodate the various sizesand shapes of individual wearers. No extra material is required formaking the necessary adjustments and the efiiciency thereof is notaffected thereby.

I wish it to be understood that I do not desire to be limited. to theexact details of construction shown and described for obviousmodifications will occur to a person skilled in the art.

I claim:

An adjustable garment comprising: a back section; a plurality of buttonsassociated with two vertical edges of said back section; a first frontsection, generally triangular in shape, including a substantiallytriangular adjustable tab provided with button holes in the two outeredges thereof, the button holes on one of the edges of said triangularadjustable tab being adapted to register with the buttons on one of theedges of said back section, the button holes on the bottom edge of thetriangular adjustable tab being adapted to register with the bottombutton on said back section for circumferential adjustment of the lowerportion of the garment; a second front section oppositely andsymmetrically arranged with respect to the first front section and beinggenerally triangular in shape including a second substantiallytriangular adjustable tab provided with button holes at the two outeredges thereof, the button holes on one of the edges of the secondadjustable tab being adapted to register with the buttons on one of theedges of said back section, the button holes on the bottom edge of thesecond tab being adapted to register with the bottom button on the otheredge of the said back section for circumferential adjustment of thegarment; and means to detachably interconnect the forward free edges ofthe first and second front sections.

PATRICIA HOCHFELDER.

